A Crisis of Threatened Loss of God’s Presence Exodus 33:1 - 17 Presented by Bob DeWaay December 20, 2009

A Crisis of Threatened Loss of God’s Presence

Exodus 33:1 - 17

Presented by Bob DeWaay

December 20, 2009

Exodus 33:1, 2

Then the Lord spoke to Moses, “Depart, go up from here, you and the people whom you have brought up from the land of Egypt, to the land of which I swore to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, saying, ‘To your descendants I will give it.’ I will send an angel before you and I will drive out the Canaanite, the Amorite, the Hittite, the Perizzite, the Hivite and the Jebusite.”

Moses is told to go, but with an angel

Exodus 33:3, 4

“Go up to a land flowing with milk and honey; for I will not go up in your midst, because you are an obstinate people, and I might destroy you on the way.” When the people heard this sad word, they went into mourning, and none of them put on his ornaments.

The loss of God’s presence would be the end of their special status

Exodus 33:5, 6 (HCSB)

For the Lord said to Moses: “Tell the Israelites: You are a stiff-necked people. If I went with you for a single moment, I would destroy you. Now take off your jewelry, and I will decide what to do with you.” So the Israelites stripped of their jewelry from Mount Horeb onward.

They must mourn while God decides what to do with them

Exodus 33:7

Now Moses used to take the tent and pitch it outside the camp, a good distance from the camp, and he called it the tent of meeting. And everyone who sought the Lord would go out to the tent of meeting which was outside the camp.

This tent of meeting is different than the tabernacle as tent of meeting

Exodus 33:8, 9

And it came about, whenever Moses went out to the tent, that all the people would arise and stand, each at the entrance of his tent, and gaze after Moses until he entered the tent. Whenever Moses entered the tent, the pillar of cloud would descend and stand at the entrance of the tent; and the Lord would speak with Moses.

Moses was in the tent and the cloud was

visible to the people

Exodus 33:10

When all the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance of the tent, all the people would arise and worship, each at the entrance of his tent.

The people worship Yahweh

Exodus 33:11

Thus the Lord used to speak to Moses face to face, just as a man speaks to his friend. When Moses returned to the camp, his servant Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, would not depart from the tent.

Moses received tangible communication from Yahweh

Exodus 33:12

Then Moses said to the Lord, “See, You say to me, ‘Bring up this people!’ But You Yourself have not let me know whom You will send with me. Moreover, You have said, ‘I have known you by name, and you have also found favor in My sight.’”

Moses wants more than an angel going before

Exodus 33:13, 14 (HCSB)

“Now if I have indeed found favor in Your sight, please teach me Your ways, and I will know You and find favor in Your sight. Now consider that this nation is Your people.” Then He replied, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”

The promise of presence is restored

Exodus 33:15, 16

Then he said to Him, “If Your presence does not go with us, do not lead us up from here. For how then can it be known that I have found favor in Your sight, I and Your people? Is it not by Your going with us, so that we, I and Your people, may be distinguished from all the other people who are upon the face of the earth?”

Without God’s presence they are not a special people

Exodus 33:17

The Lord said to Moses, “I will also do this thing of which you have spoken; for you have found favor in My sight and I have known you by name.”

“Favor” or “grace” is mentioned 5 times in verses 12 - 17

Implications and Applications

1) If God had not spoken through mediators we would know little about Him

2) God’s presence is what distinguishes His people from all others

3) The only reason we have God’s presence is because of His sovereign grace

Mark 9:4, 7

Elijah appeared to them along with Moses; and they were talking with Jesus. . . . Then a cloud formed, overshadowing them, and a voice came out of the cloud, “This is My beloved Son, listen to Him!”


John 1:17, 18

For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ. No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him.


John 3:32 - 34

What He has seen and heard, of that He testifies; and no one receives His testimony. He who has received His testimony has set his seal to this, that God is true. For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God; for He gives the Spirit without measure.


1Peter 2:4, 5

And coming to Him as to a living stone which has been rejected by men, but is choice and precious in the sight of God, you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.


2Corinthians 6:14, 15

Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness? Or what harmony has Christ with Belial, or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever?


2Corinthians 6:16

Or what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said, “I will dwell in them and walk among them; And I will be their God, and they shall be My people.”


John 1:16

For of His fullness we have all received, and grace upon grace.


Hebrews 4:16

Let us therefore draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and may find grace to help in time of need.


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A Crisis of Threatened Loss of God’s Presence Exodus 33:1 - 17 Presented by Bob DeWaay December 20, 2009